Proof nobody knows who their MEP is after made-up politician comes second in a poll of the best-known ones

Ukip's Nathan Gill was the most recognised Welsh representative in the European Parliament, followed by the totally made up Elwyn Davies

By Natasha Clark

17th November 2016, 1:15 pm

Updated: 17th November 2016, 3:44 pm

A MADE up person has been voted as the second most widely recognised Welsh politician in the European Parliament.

Showing just how little most people know about EU politics and those who represent them, a new study showed that the fictitious Elwyn Davies came second only to Ukip Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Nathan Gill.

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No one really knows who represents them in the European Parliament

A poll from the 2016 Welsh Election Study asked people to choose which were Wales' four representatives in the European Parliament.

They were given 30 seconds and a list containing the real MEPs and a number of fakes.

Mr Gill topped the poll, but the fake number two came ahead of his real-life colleagues Jill Evans, Derek Vaughan and Kay Swinburne.

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Labour's Derek Vaghan MEP came below a made-up person in the survey

Professor Roger Scully, who ran the study, said: "It's difficult to know what to say about some of these results.

"It is, I think, probably unsurprising Nathan Gill came top, given the higher profile his role in the Assembly election was giving him.

"But none of the other Welsh MEPs were selected by a greater proportion of the study respondents than that legendary figure in Welsh politics 'Elwyn Davies' - whose contributions to our national political life I feel I need not elaborate upon.

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The study also showed that people were more able to recognise their MPs and constituency Welsh Assembly members.

In the result 70% got their MP's name right from a list, and 53% got their AM correct.

"We will, of course, very likely be losing our MEPs when the UK leaves the European Union. But on these results, it seems fair to say that most of the Welsh public are unlikely to notice," Professor Scully added.